30 April 2011 - Bonelli's Eagle and tern fest!

Purple Herons, Metochi Lake. Recent days have seen small flocks heading north over the island. These birds were part of a flock of 11 seen coming in from the south and then circling the lake before attracting three birds up from the lake area and all the birds then heading off together to the north. Another three birds were seen leaving the lake to the north too © Steve Dudley

Warm and sunny - Lesvos back to normal!

Slightly more birds around today with what appears to be a new arrival of flycatchers in the west. Bee-eaters and Red-backed Shrikes still thin on the ground but trickling in. Despite reports, still no bush robins actually on territory and where now are the lesser Grey Shrikes? What a topsy-turvy year this is.

Late news - 2 Laughing Doves reported in Loutra 29 April. No further details (one previous record May 1994).

Common Nightingales are not Bush-robins - lots of birds seen feeding in open areas are being reported as Rufous Bush-robin. Please check birds carefully - not all rufous-coloured birds feeding around rocks and in fields etc are Bush-robins (in fact, none of them are so far!).

Environment Centre - please visit the centre. Apart from fascinating displays about the Kalloni area and its wildlife, geology etc, they need our support. The centre is on the edge of Skala Kallonis. Walk down the side of the bakery by the mini soccer pitch, along the the track with the channel on your left and houses on your right towards the Tsiknias River. The centre is the last building (pink - you cant miss it!). Only a small sign on the gate (the main sign blew away in the winter!). Open hours are 0900-1300 and 1800-2100. Thanks.

North of Mesotopos - BONELLI'S EAGLE adult or nr adult. Seen in the same area last year and late news of a bird over Lardia Valley (nr Vatousa) around the 19 April, suggests there may well be a pair in the Vatousa area which shoulk be looked for when in the Vatousa area.

Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint - Levant Sparrowhawk male, Eleonora's Falcon 1, Montagu's Harrier 2m 1f, Goshawk 1, Hobby 1, Short-toed Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Buzzard, European Sparrowhawk, Peregrine.

Kalloni Saltpans (east side) - Caspian Tern 1, Black Tern 10, Whiskered Tern 30, White-winged Black Tern 15, Gull-billed Tern 1, Sandwich Tern 5, Slender-billed Gull 8, Mediterranean Gull 18, Spotted Redshank 4, Grey Plover 8, Shoveler 5 (4m, 1f), Glossy Ibis 27, Greater Flamingo 1080, Temminck's Stint 3.

Polichnitos Saltpans - Citrine Wagtail 2CY male (pool closed to village).

Napi Valley - Olive-tree Warbler (1 at barrier site below Mavria - park carefully and tale care on this road), Hobby 1, Masked Shrike (many), Golden Oriole.

Makara - Barred Warbler 1, Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Little Gull 1, Scopoli's Shearwater 3, Yelkouan Shearwater 1000+.

Metochi Lake - Purple Heron 17, Little Bittern 3, Night-heron 2, Squacco Heron, Little Crake 5+, Golden Oriole 1, Savi's Warbler.

Ipsilou - Red-footed Falcon 1, Collared Flycatcher 5, Wood Warbler 2, Cinereous Bunting and Isabelline Wheatear.

Sigri / Faneromeni - Barred Warbler 5, Icterine Warbler 2, Montagu's Harrier male, Red-footed Falcon 1, Collared Flycatcher 15, Pied Flycatcher 10, Spotted Flycatcher 20, Whinchat 50, Wood Warbler 3, Golden Oriole 2, Red-backed Shrike 1, Tree Pipit, Bee-eater, Short-toed Lark 8, Black-headed Bunting (many).

Kavaki - Barred Warbler 2, Ruppell's Warbler.

Skala Sikaminias - Audouin's Gull 1, Scopoli's Shearwater 1, Yalkouan Shearwater.

Sigri Old Sanatorium - Icterine Warbler 1, Collared Flycatcher, Golden Oriole, Quail 2, Night-heron 1.

Almyropotamos River (nr Polichnitos pans) - Golden Oriole 20, Red-backed Shrike 1, Little Bittern 1, Purple Heron 2.

Meladia Valley - Icterine Warbler 3, Golden Oriole 1, Collared Flycatcher 1, Wood Warbler, Tawny Pipit 1, Rock Sparrow 1, Purple Heron 7.

Aghios Ioannis - Montagu's Harrier male.

Soumouria (Scops Copse) - Scops Owl 1 - in tree to right of taverna - blue plastic bag under stone at base of tree - look up right hand side of tree, bird is difficult to see behind leaves.

9 May 2010 - Richard's Pipit

Nr Sigri Old Sanatorium - RICHARD'S PIPIT 1 seen well at 0820h on coastal track between the petrified forest enclosure on headland and the sanatorium (Paul Manning, Vera Manning). No accepted records, but one record currently with HRC, so if confirmed, this will be the second record for Lesvos.

Above Mesotopos - BONELLI'S EAGLE 1, Red-footed Falcon 21, Long-legged Buzzard 3 (inc. nest), Rock Sparrows, Crag Martin, etc (Paul Manning, Vera Manning).

Kalloni Saltpans - BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER 1, Marsh Sandpiper 1, Whiskered Tern 2, White-winged Black Tern 1, Black Tern 2.

Nr Molivos - LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE 2 (Robin Chittenden et al)

Vouvaris River Mouth - Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 1, Icterine Warbler 1.

Platania - Olive-tree Warbler 4+ singing and showing on and off at the cattle grid site, Golden Oriole 3+, Long-legged Buzzard 6+, Short-toed Eagle 1, usual Masked Shrike, Sombre Tit, Woodlark, etc. Common Swift 600+.

Kalami Marsh - Whiskered Tern 2, Hobby.

Alikoudi Pool - Curlew Sandpiper 6, Little Stint 45+, Grey Plover 3, Wood Sandpiper 10+, Greater Flamingo 2.

Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint - Ortolan Bunting 1, Eleanora's Falcon 4, Honey-buzzard 1, Short-toed Eagle 5, Long-legged Buzzard 2, Common Buzzard 4, Bee-eater 60+, Common Swift 300+.

Skala Kallonis - Red-footed Falcon 1, Short-toed Eagle 1.

Napi - Little Bittern 1.

Out west - following yesterday's shower out west fall of Spotted Flycatchers and Red-backed Shrikes.

Ipsilou - Eastern Bonelli's Warbler, Icterine Warbler, Wood Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher 40+.

Meladia Valley - Lesser Grey Shrike, Icterine Warbler, Rufous Bush Robin 3, Little Bittern 5, Squacco Heron 1, Night-heron 1, Purple Heron 1, Spotted Flycatcher 50+, Red-backed Shrike 20+.

4 May - more eagles and Levant Sparrowhawks

Roller, Faneromeni © Steve Dudley

Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint (bandstand) – BONELLI’S EAGLE 1 to north c.1400h.

Between Ipsilou and Sigri – LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE 1.

South of Petra – LEVANT SPARROWHAWK 1 high north at c.1000h.

Faneromeni – CITRINE WAGTAIL 2 (m&f) on both lower and upper fords. COLLARED FLYCATCHER 2 (m&f) and Icterine Warbler 2 at upper ford, ROLLER and COLLARED FLYCATCHER north-east of upper ford.

Lardia Valley – EASTERN BONELLI’S WARBLER 1 singing by second lay-by from Vatousa end.

Ipsilou – LEVANT SPARROWHAWK 1 (m), Icterine Warbler 5, loads of Spotted Flycatchers and Wood Warblers, Golden Oriole and other common migrants. Barred Warbler c.1km east of monastery.

Sigri Old Sanatorium – ROLLER 4 (together) at c.1830h. Red-backed Shrike.

Meladia Valley – ROLLER 1, CITRINE WAGTAIL 1 (fem), Rose-coloured Starling 1, Icterine Warbler 3, Common Starling 1, Common Redstart, Wood Warbler. Rufous Bush Robin 1 nr chapel.

Kalloni Saltpans area – PALLID HARRIER 1 1st sum male, Glossy Ibis 8, Black Stork 3, White Stork 1, Squacco Heron 7, Purple Heron 1, Grey Heron 11, Ruddy Shelduck 2, Mallard 2, Curlew Sandpiper 2 plus good numbers of Wood Sandpipers and Ruff (all on flood opposite the saltworks entrance). Temminck’s Stint 1, Ringed Plover 11, Short-toed Lark 4, Red-throated Pipit 3 plus good numbers of Wood Sandpipers and Kentish Plovers (Alykes Wetlands sheepfields). RUFOUS BUSH ROBIN male still west of beach cafe. NOTE - please do not harrass this bird!

Tsiknias River – Temminck’s Stint 4.

Between Tsiknias River and Saltpans – Red-footed Falcon 1st sum fem, Lesser Grey Shrike 3, Red-backed Shrike 1, Long-legged Buzzard 1.

Agias Fokas – plenty of Yelkouan Shearwaters west between 1500-1600, Black-headed Bunting 20 in flock on headland.

Dimitrios – Middle Spotted Woodpecker nesting in one of poplars by the chapel, Grey Wagtail, Serin, Long-eared Owl.

Kavaki (nr Petra) - Ruppell's Warbler 3prs active. Please refrain from walking through the scrub to the north of the road as birds are now feeding young and should be easily seen from the laybys, pavement and track up the southern hillside. Also Orphean Warbler.

Nr Agra – Eleonora’s Falcon 1.

Olive-tree Warbler - two birds still at the barrier site in the upper Napi valley. Also two birds on west of road between here and the track to the masts. Still no birds in the Platania cattle grid site.

Autumn raptors

Resident Lesvos birder Terry Robinson has had the place to himself in recent weeks, and the last few days he's been enjoying a raptor bonanza.

Tues, 16 Sept
Palia Vigla (prof ilios) Vatera
Booted Eagle 1
Lesser Spotted Eagle 6
Short-toed Eagle 4
Marsh Harrier 22
Common Buzzard 4
Honey-buzzard 92
Hobby 3
Kestrel 1
Peregrine 1
Eleonora’s Falcon 6

Polichnitos Saltpans
Garganey 14

Mon, 15 Sept
Palia Vigla (prof ilios) Vatera
Booted Eagle 7
Lesser Spotted Eagle 1
Short-toed Eagle 1
Honey-buzzard 99
Hobby 1
Kestrel 1
Eleonora’s Falcon 1

Sun, 14 Sept
Palia Vigla (prof ilios) Vatera
Marsh Harrier 23
Bonelli’s Eagle 1
Common Buzzard 4
Honey-buzzard 6
Eleonora’s Falcon 1
Bee-eater 106
Pallid Swift 1
Common Swift 1

Polichnitos
Honey-buzzard 60+
Hoopoe 1
Eleonora’s Falcon 1

Sat, 13 Sept
Polichnitos Saltpans
Garganey 7
Spotted Redshank 1
Wood Sandpiper 1

Thu, 11 Sept
Polichnitos Saltpans
Spoonbill 5 plus lots of migrants inc. Spotted Flys everywhere, Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Black-eared wheatears, dozens of Whinchats and lots of shrikes.

also at Polichnitos Saltpans in August
Spoonbill 1 28th, Montagu's Harrier 1 on 27th, Garganey 1 24th.

15 May 08 - more Roses

Skala Eresou - BONELLI'S EAGLE 1.

Kalloni Saltpans - BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER 1, Glossy Ibis 5, Red-footed Falcon 11, Gull-billed Tern 2, Mediterranen Gull 1, Grey Plover 4, Curlew 1, Turnstone 1.

Metochi Lake - Rose-coloured Starling 12.

Thanks to Duncan Walbridge and Hotel Pasiphae for sending me copies of their bird log.

Reporting your sightings
I left the island last week and it would be great to keep the records coming in and keep these daily summaries as complete and as interesting as possible. Please send me your records direct to -
Email steve at toadsnatcher dot com
Text 00447767787287

Reporting nationally rare birds seen on Lesvos

Like BBRC in Britain, Greece has the Hellenic Rarities Committee. Records of all nationally rare species need to be submitted to the HRC. From this years bag full of goodies, this includes all records of Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters, Great Snipe, Cattle Egret, Steppe Eagle, Scarlet (Common) Rosefinch, etc. See here for further information.

6 May 08 - Broad-billed Sandpiper

LOST - one Tilley hat. Could be anywhere between Skala Eresou and Achladeri! Contact Steve at steve at toadsnatcher dot com.

Finsch's and Pied Wheatears
There are reports of both Finsch's and Pied Wheatears each year and those followed up invariably turn out to be black-and-white Black-eared Wheatears. This year seems to be particuarly noteworthy for such reports and all have so far turned out to be BEWs. If anyone has any photographs to support claims of either of these two species please come forward. Email steve at toadsnatcher dot com.

Weather: fine and settled withvirtually no wind. Max temp. c. 28 C.

A fresh influx of waders brought in a Broad-billed Sandpiper this evening. Today's Imperial Eagle sighting, seen by the same observer as last week (at the same location), is now thought to be just one bird accounting for all records (confirmed/probables) over the last week (inc. yesterdays two sightings).

Todays highlights -

Kalloni Bandstand - IMPERIAL EAGLE 1 over mid-morning. It is now thought that one bird accounts for all the sightings on the island this spring.

Kalloni Saltpans - BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER 1 in evening, SPUR-WINGED PLOVER 2 (turn right at south-west corner bend, birds in little sheep enclosure and field on left), Marsh Sandpiper 1, Collared Pratincole 5, Red-footed Falcon 9, White-winged Black Tern 11, Whiskered Tern 3, Black Tern 2, Black Stork 2, Curlew 2, Temminck's Stint 2, Little Stint 400+, Ruff 220+, Curlew Sandpiper 85+, Montagu's Harrier 1.

Tsiknias River - BONELLI'S EAGLE 1 to west, LEVANT SPARROWHAWK 2 (m&f) to north, Ruppell's Warbler 2 singing males along upper section. River Warbler 1 singing along upper section.

Sigri - European Nightjar 3, Scops Owl 2.

Skala Kallonis Pool - Little Bittern 1, Squacco Heron 2 (feeding 3 small young).

Achladeri - Kruper's Nuthatch young now hatched (prob. this morning). Just beyond the white building in the car park, look to left for tall pointed tree stump with electric cables coming off either side. Nest in bottom of the gash at the top of the stump. No sign of Long-eared Owls in recent days. Masked Shrike nesting nearby.

Platania - Olive Tree Warbler 6+ now around the 'cattle grid' site.

Lardia Valley – Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler 1, holding territory at eastern end. West of Vatousa park at eastern end of valley in ‘chalky’ coloured pull-in on right with small wooden gate. Walk west for three telegraph poles to small pool. Bird is in this area but can get to opposite side of valley. Rock Sparrow nesting in Rock Nuthatch nest on rocky outcrop on right from the pull-in.

Kalloni Mini Soccer – Scops Owl 1 - bird still in the fifth roadside tree from the mini soccer pitch entrance but can only be seen from along the road or safer(!) from the track opposite the soccer pitch entrance. It is c.7m up the tree and quote difficult to see.

Mylopotamos River (East East River) - Goshawk imm male chasing Turtle Doves through olive groves.

Thanks to everyone for their records and for those who enter their records in the Hotel Pasiphae bird log.

Printed copies of the daily Lesvosbirding.com summaries are also on reception at the Hotel Pasiphae by the bird log. Please do not remove them. Thanks. Anyone wanting a printed copy of any daily summary should ask at the hotel reception.

2 May 08 - A right bonny day

Continued fine weather had all the hallmarks of bird going straight through, but today saw a reasonable fresh arrival of migrants across the island. Very little surface water remaining in the seasonal pools of the Alykes Wetlands and Saltpans area (opp. the Saltworks entrance).

Weather: fine and sunny with virtually no wind. Max. temp c. 28 C.

Yesterday, unconfirmed report of the fifth BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER of the spring at Sigri.

Today’s highlights -

Platania – BONELLI’S EAGLE 1 (sub-ad), OLIVE TREE WARBLER 1 still.

Kalloni Bandstand – LEVANT SPARROWHAWK 1 (f), Honey-buzzard 1, Goshawk 1 (m), Black Stork 1.

Metochi Lake – BAILLON’S CRAKE 1, Little Crake 4, Little Bittern 4, Squacco Heron 7, Purple Heron 1, Whiskered Tern 3. No sign of the Spotted Crake.

Kalloni Saltpans area - SPUR-WINGED PLOVER 1, Gull-billed Tern 1, Red-footed Falcon 3, Collared Pratincole 5, Red-throated Pipit 3, Short-toed Lark 4, Ruddy Shelduck 16, Black Stork 1, Whiskered Tern 2, White-winged Black Tern 7.

Lardia Valley – Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 1 singing at eastern end below the Crag Martin outcrop.

Faneromeni area – Red-breasted Flycatcher 1, Collared Flycatcher 1.

Meladia River Ford – River Warbler 1, Collared Flycatcher 1.

Napi Valley – Thrush Nightingale 1.

Skala Kallonis – Honey-buzzard 1 over Hotel Pasiphae c.8.45 am.

Achladeri – Kruper’s Nuthatch showing well.

Kalloni Mini Soccer – Scops Owl 1 - bird still in the fifth roadside tree from the mini soccer pitch entrance but can only be seen from along the road or safer(!) from the track opposite the soccer pitch entrance. It is c.7m up the tree and quote difficult to see.

Petra Reservoir area – reservoir now drained with only a puddle of a pool remaining. River Warbler 1 (nr main road), Temminck’s Stint 4, Red-backed Shrike 6+, Bee-eater 40+.

Molivos – River Warbler 1.

Tsiknias River – Temminck’s Stint 3.

Skala Kallonis - Long-eared Owl 2 at Hotel Pasiphae.

Thanks to everyone for their records and for those who enter their records in the Hotel Pasiphae bird log.